“Yeah. So?” I stared down into my beer, unable to look him in the eye.

“So? There is a big difference, man. You have feelings for some nice girl you’ve been out with a few times. You fall for the girl and game over.”

“Look, I don’t know which one it is, okay? This shit is new to me. I don’t do relationships. Hell, I do everything I can to avoid them.”

“That’s for damn sure,” the waitress mumbled, slamming my drink down in front of me.

“I’m sorry. Do I know you?” I snapped.

Her eyes narrowed and she slapped me hard across my cheek. She glared at me for a minute before I noticed her name tag. Tracy. Shit, she was that girl from before the house warming party. Well, that explained the slap. She huffed and stomped off as I pressed a hand to my cheek. I guess I deserved that.

David was trying desperately to contain his laughter and I glared at him as I tossed back the second shot. Odds were Tracy probably spit in it.

“What is it with you and women?” He shook his head at me.

“I just like to have fun.” I shrugged.

“That’s because you would rather go for quantity then quality,” he said. “Look, I get it, you’re young, and in college, there is an endless stream of coeds in short skirts, thinking they can fuck their way into getting what they want. It may seem like you are living the dream, but waking up next to a different girl has nothing on waking up next to the right girl. Look at Mom and Dad. Shit, they’ve been married for twenty-seven years and they are happier than the day they were married.”

“Yeah, but look at Pop now. Don’t you see how her cancer is killing him just as much as it is killing her?”

“What Mom is going through sucks and it is hard on all of us, but don’t think for a second that Dad would trade a single minute of his life with her if he had the choice.”

“What if Red doesn’t…?” I let the question hang, not wanting to really consider that she might not feel the same way I did.

“You won’t know until you tell her.”

He had a point and man, did I hate it when David was right. He could be a self-righteous bastard when he wanted to be.

I poured myself a beer from the pitcher on the table. “You didn’t come all the way up here for the cheap beer. What’s up?”

“Yeah, I actually came on some wedding business. So, things with Mom aren’t…” he paused, dropping his head. He cleared his throat and looked up at me. “Millie and I are moving up the wedding to the end of the month.”

“Wow, that’s quick. You sure there isn’t another reason?” I chuckled.

“Funny, asshole!” He balled up a napkin and tossed it at me.

“Okay, so what do you need from me?”

“I want you to be my best man.”

I looked up at him. “Really?”

“Of course! You’re my brother. Who else would I want to stand up with me?”

I shot him a smile and dropped a hand on his shoulder. “I’m honored, man, seriously.”

“Okay, well, I got to get going. I have to round up the rest of the groomsmen before I have to get back.” David chugged the rest of his beer and got to his feet, tossing a few bills down on the table.

“Thanks, Dave.”

He nodded and headed for the door.

***

I spent the rest of the day just trying to find ways to occupy my mind. I finished the web design project. I got started on a psych paper. I considered cleaning, but figured that was taking the distraction thing a little too far. I ended up drinking on the couch with the TV on, although I was not paying attention to what was on the screen. My head was on a constant loop of Red.

I was so focused on her that when my phone went off, I half expected it to be Red.

Sean: Dorm party at Langford. Get down here.

I figured, eh, what the hell. I got up, grabbed a jacket and my keys, and headed out to meet up with Sean.

When I got there, people were everywhere. The party covered the entire first floor. All the doors were opened and people went from room to room and spilled out into the hallway. I spotted Sean and headed over to him.

“‘Bout time.” He turned to a little blonde standing next to him. “Hey. Crystal, this is my roommate, Drew.”

I nodded a greeting to her and she gave me a suggestive smile, twirling her hair around her finger. “Hey Becca,” she called without taking her eyes off me.

As the tall brunette made her way toward us, she answered, “Yeah.” When she saw us, she stepped close to me, running her hand down my chest. “You must be the roommate. I heard so much about you.” Her voice took on a slow, sexy drawl.

She was ridiculously hot, but she knew it. She wore a tight brown low cut vest only a shade darker than her overly tanned skin. Her tight jeans hung low on her hips, exposing the smooth skin of her stomach.

I looked up, meeting Sean’s eyes. He smiled at me and nodded. The smirk on his face said you’re welcome, but this was not the distraction I was looking for. I was starting to push her away when I caught sight of Red coming out of one of the rooms behind her. She was smiling, facing someone I couldn’t see. She reached her hand out and took a few steps backward. She leaned against the wall. Then I saw Chuck step toward her. He leaned in close, smiling down at her.

“Sean was telling me about your apartment,” Becca said. “Sounds nice. I would love to see it.”

“Yeah,” I replied without comprehending what she’d said. I was too busy watching Red giggle and flirt with Chuck. Goddamn it! Last night she was telling me how I should have kissed her and now she’s flirting with that asshole!

Becca grabbed my chin and turned my head back to face her. “Why don’t we get out of here?” She pressed herself against me and my eyes immediately went to the abundance of skin coming out of her top.

I looked over her head and saw Chuck lean down and kiss Red’s neck as she giggled and reached for his shoulder. All of my instincts were telling me to go over there and rip Chuck off her, but that was not going to work out in my favor. I looked down at Becca, who was insanely hot and obviously ready to go. Then I looked back at Red, who was letting Chuck lead her down the hall. I snapped. I grabbed Becca’s hand.

“Fuck it, let’s go!” I headed for the door, dragging Becca along behind me.

“You two have fun!” Sean called after us.

The ride back to my apartment was short, but Becca wasted no time. She was all over me in the car, her lips and tongue on my neck and her hands in my lap. I was turned on and more than ready to go, but I was also seriously pissed.

I threw the car in park and grabbed Becca by the back of the neck, crushing my lips to hers. She moaned loudly as I kissed her hard. If Red was going to fuck around with Chuck then I was going to enjoy the hell out of this stacked chick trying to climb into my lap.

I got her out of the car and up the stairs, pressing her to my front door. I tried to get the door unlocked but was distracted as her hands started to unbutton my jeans.

Once inside, I lifted her and carried her to my room, dropping her onto the bed. She bit her lip and reached for the three buttons holding together what already wasn’t much of a top. I pulled my shirt over my head as she sat up, pulled my zipper down, and yanked my jeans down my legs.

I unclasped her bra and roughly cupped her breasts as she moaned, dropping her head back and giving me access to her neck. She smelled like vanilla. It was too sweet and it made me think of Red and her fruity shampoo.

Fuck! It should have been me. I should be the one kissing her, touching her, not Chuck!

I growled, frustrated by everything that was going through my head and desperate to find something else to focus on. I pushed Becca back onto the bed, hovering over her and undoing the button of her jeans. I let my lips travel down her neck to her chest. I ran my tongue over her already hard nipple and trapped it between my teeth. She arched her back in response and cried out.